In light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the way we work and live, and the related uncertainty as to the future form of the physical workplace, Conflict Dynamics has adapted its training and dispute resolution services for online delivery. Mediator skills training, as well as training in managing workplace discipline and poor work performance, has been successful delivered by Conflict Dynamics since May 2020.
ONLINE TRAINING DELIVERY BASICS
DURATION OF ONLINE WORKSHOPS
Each course delivered online will require the same amount of actual “contact time” as would have been the case for face-to-face classroom-based training. There are two options for achieving this contact time when training online.
OPTION 1:
The online workshop is scheduled in the same manner as classroom-based training. For example, a 2-day course would be scheduled over 2 consecutive full days, running from approximately 8h30 – 16h30 each day. Each day is structured across four 90 minute modules as follows:
Session 1: 08h30 – 10h00
Session 2: 10h30 – 12h00
Session 3: 13h00 – 14h30
Session 4: 15h00 – 16h30
OPTION 2:
The online workshop is broken down into a series of shorter sessions, all of which ultimately add up to the original contact time required to complete the workshop. For example, a classroom-based training day would normally involve approximately 6 hours of actual contact (learning) time, after deducting the time taken for tea, lunch and comfort breaks. This means that a typical 2-day course requires approximately 12 hours of actual learning time. The online course is therefore scheduled over a series of sessions of, for example, 1.5, 2 or 3 hours each, totalling the required hours.
PLATFORM FOR ONLINE TRAINING DELIVERY
Our preferred platforms for online training delivery are Zoom Pro and MS Teams. Both are user friendly for participants and both offer the necessary functionality for highly participative learning and active skills development.
Since May 2020 Conflict Dynamics has successfully conducted seven 6-day online Mediator Skills Training programmes using Zoom Pro, which included 3 days of interactive learning and 3 days of fully assessed roleplaying by participants. This is a highly complex workshop from a learning process and methodology point of view, involving multiple facilitators and assessors. The courses ran smoothly and garnered very positive feedback from participants, see HERE.
Our trainers have developed the disciplinary hearing skills of approximately 550 employees in a number of large organisations over the past year, using MS Teams. They have equipped more than 120 people in an SOE with skills to manage poor performance, also using MS Teams.
Notwithstanding the above, we are also willing to work with the client’s preferred online platform to deliver training. The core requirement is that each participant has access to steady broadband connectivity and a laptop/PC/iPad (or even phone) with a camera.
METHODOLOGY
Online training includes extensive participant interaction and the same highly participative learning methodology normally employed by Conflict Dynamics in the physical training room, but obviously with the participants and facilitator each individually being in separate locations.
We make extensive use of breakout rooms for small group work and role-playing, as well as polls for real-time feedback, etc.
MATERIALS
Each participant receives a learner manual supplied in PDF format. This manual contains all the course exercises and answers as well as summaries of all the major discussions and learning points, which will serve as a very useful and practical reference document in future.
Participants will be provided with pre-workshop guidance for the online workshop approach and, where appropriate, preliminary reading to complete.
An added advantage of running workshops online is the ability to record the sessions and supply each participant with a copy of the recording to refer back to over time as they wish.
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS
We recommend a minimum number of approximately 8 participants and a maximum of approximately 18 participants per online workshop. These numbers are recommended to ensure that effective learning takes place through ongoing active participation throughout the course by all participants.
To discuss your training needs, please reach out to your usual contact at Conflict Dynamics or send us an email via our Contact page - we are open for business and working remotely.